Why use 3.8V/cell?

While for certain applications, such as scale or F3C-style flying, this value might be a hint on the conservative side, we generally recommend using 3.8V/cell for calculations. It gives you reproducible results throughout your entire flight, supports component lifespan, factors in potential drivetrain inefficiencies and losses, and helps ensure that you can actually see the calculated headspeeds in flight.

Choosing the right Kv

A slightly higher Kv motor will usually give you more flexibility in available gearing options and future setup changes.

However, higher Kv is not always better. Particularly in scale applications, lower Kv motors are often overlooked and can provide excellent efficiency and flight times when combined with suitable gearing.

Optimizing your setup

A pinion change is often the quickest and most cost-effective way to fine-tune headspeed and bring the system closer to its ideal operating range.

Rather than looking at Kv in isolation, consider the available gearing options as part of the overall setup. Different pinion sizes allow the same motor to support a wide range of headspeeds and operating characteristics.

Why aim for 80%?

We generally recommend aiming for around 80% throttle output. This gives the governor enough headroom to regulate properly while keeping the motor close to its most efficient operating range. If your desired headspeed requires significantly more or less throttle, consider changing the Kv or gearing instead.